HOLISTIC HEALTH

The vinegar with woema

No one wants to have a stomach bug at this time of the year.

It’s time to unwind and enjoy meals with friends and family. But the December heat can be the cause of an upset stomach or even food poisoning.

Food spoils easily in the heat, and certain food types, particularly fish and chicken, can become the source of infection. Even mayonnaise, when made with raw eggs, can be dangerous if not refrigerated.

Fortunately, there is an easy, cheap and well-proven way to prevent this from happening: apple cider vinegar.

In his book, Folk Medicine,

Dr DC Jarvis put apple cider vinegar on the map as an effective medication. Apart from all its other qualities, it is useful as an aid to prevent the effects of food poisoning.

Jarvis wrote about a friend who attended a conference where seafood dishes were provided. His friend, on his advice, took a small bottle of apple cider vinegar with him and sipped one teaspoonful in a glass of water throughout the meal. He even had a second generous portion of the seafood.

During the night, all the attendees became violently sick from food poisoning, except his friend. Jarvis’s explanation is that the vinegar kills the bacteria in the stomach. (As a bonus, it tastes quite pleasant, like weak apple cider).

So, if your stomach is easily upset by food that has gone off, consider taking apple cider vinegar as a precaution; it is effective against the nausea, cramps and vomiting that can accompany food poisoning, and is also cheap and convenient.

• Johanita Louw has had a lifelong interest in holistic nutrition. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Holistic health.

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